Good morning, guys! No question, just a guy with a thing: I really miss when Wes opens the column with his patented “Good morning!” It always seemed to set the stage for a bright day and a great column, not that the columns aren’t always great! I appreciate the immense work you both do on a daily basis! GPG! Oh, and GOOD MORNING!
What do you think (advantages/disadvantages) about using regular players in pre-season games? Some teams sit out all their regular players, others have limited playing time.
I thought Saturday was perfect for the Packers. Put the starters on the field, let them go through their practice routine, and build confidence with a fast-paced scoring attack. From start to finish, I felt like this game reflected both the talent and depth of the Packers. The downside is the risk of injury. That’s always the downside.
Can we safely assume that the performance of the defense at the front and back met expectations?
My “Packers win if…” during our Final Thoughts video was the defensive line’s performance in practice… and it did. The Browns were no match for the second-team defensive line, which racked up three sacks and limited Cleveland to 2.7 yards per carry. Tactics are boring in the preseason, but physicality is physicality. The Packers brought it.
Dan from Oklahoma City, OK
Can someone explain to me why Emanuel Wilson doesn’t make this team? If I had a team looking for a RB, I would definitely call the Packers for #31. Also, the safety position has tough decisions to make when it comes time to release. Amazing how one year can change depth. Thanks, Mr. Gutekunst.
He’s picked up right where he left off. After leading the NFL in preseason rushing yards last year, Wilson has now rushed for 290 yards and three touchdowns on 51 carries (5.7 yards per carry) in four preseason games. The 5’10”, 220-pound running back just keeps doing a good job.
I see that the folks at Pro Football Focus noted that AJ Dillon gained a total of seven yards after initial contact, so that’s something to consider. I knew Emanuel Wilson would offer his opinion. I expect Dillon will be ready to charge through the next (first) hole he sees.
I agree with everything Spoff wrote on Monday. The second team’s O-line got off to a slow start before settling in. Dillon has an important role on this team since Patrick Taylor – a proven pass protector with years of experience on offense – is not on the roster. Wilson and MarShawn Lloyd are solid prospects, but still young players.
Is there a chance the Packers will start with four running backs, or will Wilson have to play the entire preseason like he did against Cleveland to outdo AJ Dillon with the team’s three running backs?
The Packers could very well have four running backs on their roster. Heck, they did that for half of last season. I understand it’s been a while since Green Bay had four running backs on the roster in Week 1—2020, to be exact—but it’s worth noting that the Packers have had four running backs more often, especially when you factor in Danny Vitale, Aaron Ripkowski, and John Kuhn as fullbacks.
Grant DuBose had an incredible catch in the first preseason game and has shown some veteran-style moves in practice as well. Where do you see him playing against six different wide receivers and what will it take to make him Jordan Love’s preferred target?
DuBose is the wideout version of Wilson. The former seventh-round pick runs nice routes and catches almost everything thrown to him. In Cleveland, he caught five of six balls and drew a penalty for holding the defense, which helped Green Bay gain new offense. Right now, there is a tight battle for the WR5 role between DuBose, Bo Melton, Malik Heath and Samori Toure.
I agree with Mike that it’s a tough battle for the 5th wide receiver spot, but given our depth at that position, I’m sure we’ll keep more than five on the regular roster, right? And is Toure even on the team? I haven’t heard his name in a while.
I’m not making any predictions on the top 53, but it’s hard to imagine a scenario where the Packers don’t keep at least six receivers. One could argue that’s the most talented position on the roster. Want to know another interesting fact? The Packers have had seven wideouts on their Week 1 roster four times in the last eight seasons. What makes the battle even more intriguing is the fact that Heath, DuBose, Toure and Melton also offer varying strengths on special teams.
Jonnie from Garden City, MI
Good morning, II! I was at the game on Saturday and really enjoyed it. It’s definitely preseason for everyone. I trust many of these issues will be resolved by the time the regular season begins. It’s a learning experience all around. The new kickoff format seemed tolerable. It was nice to have more excitement on these plays. I hope Cleveland’s injured center recovers quickly. What do you like most about getting back into live coverage?
I’m back watching real football and seeing young players apply what they learned in practice in a real game. Evan Williams has six tackles and a forced fumble in just 23 defensive snaps and I feel like the 13 practices I did with him were time well spent…like I learned something.
Hey II. Chris Trapasso of CBS Sports wrote an article in February about “recasting the 2023 draft” based on the season’s performances. He took three Packers in the first round: Jayden Reed, of course. But also Karl Brooks and Dontayvion Wicks. These articles are little more than empty blather, but they show the benefits of a good third day of your draft. Maybe that takes a little of the pressure off Day 1 picks to perform right away, right? A player has time to develop when the entire draft isn’t riding on him.
Any self-respecting NFL manager or executive should be hitting the jackpot with their first-round picks most of the time, but what you do in the later rounds determines your football team’s chances of success. Brian Gutekunst and Co. have turned Green Bay into a contender, in part because of their day-three success.
